Hungary backs “Google tax”

Hungary’s PM Viktor Orbán has given his support to what has been termed the “Google tax”.

Speaking at the ITU Telecom World conference in Budapest and quoted by BBJ, he said that foreign companies profiting from Hungary’s digital economy should also contribute to growth in the sector.

Public protests against a proposed internet tax led to the Hungarian government launching a national consultation, known as InternetKon.

Earlier this year, Tamás Deutsch, the government commissioner for InternetKon, proposed a “Google tax” aimed at multinational internet-based companies.

At the ITU Telecom World conference, Orbán also gave his support to the Digital Hungary Program, which will give every home in the country broadband access by 2018.

Furthermore, he said that 8,000 Hungarian infocommunication companies would receive grants totaling HUF130 billion (€417.8 million) in the course of the next five years.